Potential for Land Use Carbon in Africa:Forest and Agroforestry Carbon

Potential for Land Use Carbon in Africa

Jonathan Haskett

Carbon benefits from Sequestration and Reduced Emissions

Potential for Land Use Carbon in Africa:Forest and Agroforestry Carbon

Sequestration of Carbon Through Land Use

• Mechanisms:– Active uptake of carbon via tree – planting– Active uptake of carbon via increased productivity– Active uptake of carbon via soil sequestration

• Benefits– Creating new livelihood opportunities and a broader, more diverse

economic base– Helping communities to adapt to climate change– Increasing biodiversity – Helping to mitigate global climate change– Reversing land degradation

Potential for Land Use Carbon in Africa:Forest and Agroforestry Carbon

CDM AFOLU Potential Africa

From : Zomer et al. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change (2008) 13:219–239

Forest Definition: Crown Cover greater than 30%

Potential for Land Use Carbon in Africa:Forest and Agroforestry Carbon

Kenya CDM AFOLU Potential

Country CDM AR Area sq km CDM AR Area hectares

Agroforestry sequestration t C (50tC/ha)

Agroforestry sequestration t CO2e

Kenya 33,259 3,325,900 166,295,000 610,302,650

Potential for Land Use Carbon in Africa:Forest and Agroforestry Carbon

Uganda CDM AFOLU Potential

Country CDM AR Area sq km CDM AR Area hectares

Agroforestry sequestration t C (50tC/ha)

Agroforestry sequestration t CO2e

Uganda 69,266 6,926,600 346,330,000 1,271,031,100

Potential for Land Use Carbon in Africa:Forest and Agroforestry Carbon

Zambia CDM AFOLU Potential

Country CDM AR Area sq km CDM AR Area hectares

Agroforestry sequestration t C (50tC/ha)

Agroforestry sequestration t CO2e

Zambia 73,638 7,363,800 368,190,000 1,351,257,300

Potential for Land Use Carbon in Africa:Forest and Agroforestry Carbon

Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation(REDD)

• Not currently included in the Kyoto framework but is on the agenda for future climate agreements as agreed to at the COP 13 climate meetings in Bali

• Provides credits for maintaining standing forests by reducing the rate of deforestation

Potential for Land Use Carbon in Africa:Forest and Agroforestry Carbon

Forest Area - Africa

MODIS 2001 Treecover

<10%

>30%

10-30%Hansen et al., 2003, Earth Interactions

Potential for Land Use Carbon in Africa:Forest and Agroforestry Carbon

Kenya Forest

Country Natural Forest sq km

Natural Forest ha

Standing Forest Carbon tC (50tC/ha)

Standing Forest Carbon tCO2e

Kenya 168,650 16,865,000 843,250,000 3,094,727,500

Potential for Land Use Carbon in Africa:Forest and Agroforestry Carbon

Uganda Forest

Country Natural Forest sq km

Natural Forest ha

Standing Forest Carbon tC (50tC/ha)

Standing Forest Carbon tCO2e

Uganda 4,1470 4,147,000 207,350,000 760,974,500

Potential for Land Use Carbon in Africa:Forest and Agroforestry Carbon

Zambia Forest

Country Natural Forest sq km

Natural Forest ha

Standing Forest Carbon tC (50tC/ha)

Standing Forest Carbon tCO2e

Zambia 311,710 31,171,000 1,558,550,000 5,719,878,500

Potential for Land Use Carbon in Africa:Forest and Agroforestry Carbon

Conclusions

There is significant potential in Africa and specifically in COMESA Countries to participate

in global carbon markets both through sequestration and through avoided

deforestation.